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Thursday, May 29, 2014

THE DAR SEFFARINE GUESTHOUSE OF MOROCCO

The transformation of The Dar Seffarine from a private residence to a guesthouse was a true labor of love. Norwegian graphic designer Kate Kvalvik and her husband, Iraqi architect Alaa Said, purchased the property in 2003 and set about resurrecting it with their own two hands.

Originally built as a private residence in the ancient medina of Fez over 600 years ago,The Dar Seffarine needed to be restored and preserved. Rather than over-modernizing the space, Kate and Alaa decided to bring the home back to life using the same building materials and techniques that were used when it was first built. Their dedication to preserving the original details means that The Dar Seffarine is now one of the best examples of traditional residences in Fez. The traditional home feel was a goal of Kate and Alaa’s, as well as instilling the home with a bit of their own design sensibilities. Clean white walls (a nod to Kate’s native Scandinavian style) mix with soaring columns, carved cedar doors and tiled floors to create a space that feels both traditional and updated at the same time.

With only seven rooms, The Dar Seffarine is designed to celebrate and focus on the beauty of communal guesthouses/hotels. Rooms are focused around a central courtyard with a rooftop terrace that guests can gather on to share mint tea and swap travel stories. The experience is truly a blend of old world traditions and modern culture, something we both admire and appreciate greatly in any travel destination.